Alain Prost reveals why he believes Nigel Mansell was jealous during their Ferrari partnership

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Alain Prost could easily contend that he has raced alongside the most remarkable lineup of teammates in Formula 1 history.

Over the course of his illustrious career, the Frenchman shared the grid with legendary figures such as Niki Lauda, Keke Rosberg, Damon Hill, Ayrton Senna, and Nigel Mansell—an impressive list that features multiple world champions.

Additionally, Prost partnered with highly capable drivers like John Watson, Rene Arnoux, Jean Alesi, and Stefan Johansson, all of whom displayed exceptional speed and skill during their peaks.

That Alain Prost concluded his career as a four-time Formula 1 world champion, despite competing against such an extraordinary roster of teammates, stands as a testament to his incredible talent and consistency.

Nonetheless, Alain Prost's relationships with his teammates varied considerably. For instance, after enduring a tumultuous period as Ayrton Senna's partner at McLaren, Prost actively prevented Senna from joining him at the Maranello team. That decision indirectly enabled Senna to claim another championship with McLaren the following year. Prost's reluctance to repeat the experience of battling one of his fiercest rivals within the same team was evident. Conversely, Prost began his career content to play a supporting role to Lauda and held deep admiration for the Austrian during their time as teammates at McLaren.

When Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell became Ferrari teammates during the 1990 season, the Frenchman decisively outperformed the Briton, even though the title ultimately went to Senna. Despite this, their partnership was far from harmonious.

In a 2018 interview on the *Beyond The Grid* podcast, Alain Prost shed light on his strained relationship with Nigel Mansell, expressing his belief that the British driver’s feelings of 'jealousy' contributed to the tension during their tenure at the Italian side.

The dynamics behind Nigel Mansell's 'jealousy' toward Alain Prost at Ferrari

Prost was asked about his reputation for seemingly forcing his teammates into retirement during his time in Formula 1. He acknowledged that Keke Rosberg had been one of his best teammates, describing him as a true friend and an excellent driver. However, Prost noted that Rosberg may not have adapted well to McLaren's approach and its philosophy for car setup, despite his skill.

Turning to Nigel Mansell, Prost remarked that Mansell was a different case altogether, stating that he could never fully understand why Mansell had been jealous, even mentioning that it stemmed from something as trivial as Prost being able to speak Italian. He suggested that such an attitude was unproductive.

In contrast, Prost highlighted his relationship with Niki Lauda, emphasizing that the two never had any issues or arguments during their two years as teammates.

Nigel Mansell showed confidence in his rivalry with Alain Prost
The dynamic between Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost during their two seasons together at Ferrari offered a compelling chapter in Formula 1 history.

Mansell ended the 1989 and 1990 seasons in fourth and fifth place, respectively, while Prost claimed the world championship in their debut year as teammates. The following year, Prost narrowly lost out on the title to Ayrton Senna, but he remained the stronger performer within the Ferrari camp.

Despite their time as teammates concluding after those two seasons, the competitive tension between the two drivers continued to linger, keeping their rivalry alive beyond their shared tenure at Ferrari.

Ahead of the brief Grand Prix Masters series, where Prost and Mansell were expected to reunite, Mansell remarked, as reported by Autosport, that the rivalry between them remained strong. He noted that Prost was highly competitive and would do everything possible to secure victory, adding that Prost particularly disliked losing to anyone, especially to him.

Nigel Mansell is convinced he would have dominated Alain Prost in 1993 if he had remained in Formula 1 instead of turning his attention to the CART series in the United States.

Although the showdown between the two never materialized, Mansell appeared determined to prove himself against Prost, who had once suggested that Mansell harbored 'jealousy' over his rapport with the Ferrari team. The potential clash between them remains one of the great "what-ifs" of Formula 1 history.

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